Official Contest Rules
2008 MINI Million Dollar Challenge
2008 OFFICIAL GAME RULES
1.
NO PURCHASE, CONTRIBUTION OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN: This Game ("Game") begins with the commencement of the registration period at 12:00:01 AM Eastern Time on March 5th, 2008 and continues through the end of the viewing period of posted Winners on the Standings Page at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on April 26th, 2008 ("Promotion Period"). THIS GAME IS DEVISED AS A NON-GAMBLING PROMOTION, and is intended solely for entertainment purposes. From all eligible entries received, Winners will be determined based on their ability to use their skill and knowledge of college basketball players and teams to select winning teams during the college basketball national champion play-offs for the 2008 college basketball season.
2. ELIGIBILITY: The Game is open to legal residents of one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia (excluding Guam, Puerto Rico, and all other U.S. and foreign territories and possessions) ("Eligibility Area") who are 21 years of age or older at the time of entry and have the ability to enter into valid contracts in their personal jurisdiction of residence. Only individuals may enter. One entry per person. Additional entries from any individual using different e-mail addresses will be disqualified. The Game is VOID outside of the Eligibility Area and where otherwise taxed, prohibited or restricted BMW of North America LLC ("Sponsor") employees and excluded residents may play, but WILL NOT be eligible to receive any prizes. Employees and directors of Sponsor and Athlon Sports Communications, Inc. ("Athlon Sports") and each of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, (remove dealers) franchisees, advertising and promotional agencies, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents, their immediate families (defined as spouse, child, sibling, parent or grandparent), and those living in their same households are ineligible to win or collect prizes in the Game. By participating, Entrants agree to these Official Rules and to the decisions of Athlon Sports and the judges, which are final and binding in all respects. Entrants agree to waive any right to claim ambiguity in the Game and/or these Official Rules.
3. HOW TO REGISTER: Beginning 12:00:01 AM Eastern Time on March 5th, 2008 and through 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on April 5th, 2008 ("Game Period"), Entrants will log on to http://www.MINIBracketChallenge.com ("Site") and follow the instructions to complete the Official Entry Form. At the time of registration, Entrants will be grouped into one of four geographical regions based on Entrant's state ("regions"). There are three separate Sections ("Sections") of this Game.
Field of 64
This Section comprises all 63 games of the national tournament and is composed of 6 Rounds. An entry should correctly identify each of the college basketball teams that Entrant determines will advance through all rounds of the national tournament, including the selection of the national champion, from the entire starting field of 64 college basketball teams ("entry" or "entries"). Beginning March 5th, 2008, through March 20th, 2008, Entrants must submit their entry electronically no later than 11:00:00 am EST, Thursday, March 20th, 2008 ("Field of 64 Deadline") (see Tournament Deadline Schedule below).
Field of 16
This Section comprises the 15 games remaining in the national tournament after the conclusion of the first- and second-round games. It is comprised of 4 rounds. An entry should correctly identify each of the college basketball teams that Entrant determines will advance through the final 15 games of the national tournament, including the selection of the national champion, from the entire starting field of 64 college basketball teams. Beginning March 23rd, 2008, through March 27th, 2008, Entrants must submit their entry electronically no later than 6:00:00 pm EST, Thursday, March 27th, 2008 ("Field of 16 Deadline") (see Tournament Deadline Schedule below).
Field of 4
This Section comprises the final three (3) games remaining in the national tournament. It is comprised of 2 rounds. An entry should correctly identify each of the college basketball teams that Entrant determines will advance through the final 3 games of the national tournament, including the selection of the national champion, from the entire starting field of 64 college basketball teams. Beginning March 30th, 2008, through April 5th, 2008, Entrants must submit their entry electronically no later than 4:00:00 pm EST, Saturday, April 5th, 2008. ("Field of 4 Deadline") (see Tournament Deadline Schedule below).
Entrants must submit their entry electronically no later than thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the first Round of each Section ("Entry Deadline"). On subsequent visits, Entrants will follow the instructions to select the winning teams in each round for each Section. Entrants may submit only one entry for each Section.
In order for any entry to be valid, Entrants must indicate their acceptance of the Official Rules. Entrant data will be used to administer the Game and for other Sponsor promotions. All data is proprietary to Sponsor and will not be used for third party solicitations. Lost, late, illegible, incomplete or misdirected entries are not eligible. Neither Athlon Sports nor Sponsor is responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer systems, servers, access providers, equipment, or software, failure of any e-mail or entry to be received for any reason, traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any other technical problems related to website entries or any combination of the foregoing, including any injury or damage to an Entrant's or any other person's computer.
Tournament Deadline Schedule:
|
Game Section & Round |
Dates |
Time |
Number of Games |
|
Field of 64 - Round 1 |
March 20th -- 21st, 2008 |
TBD |
32 |
|
Field of 64 - Round 2 |
March 22nd -- 23rd, 2008 |
TBD |
16 |
|
Field of 64 - Round 3 |
March 27th -- 28th, 2008 |
TBD |
8 |
|
Field of 64 - Round 4 |
March 29th -- 30th, 2008 |
TBD |
4 |
|
Field of 64 - Round 5 |
April 5th |
TBD |
2 |
|
Field of 64 - Round 6 |
April 7th |
TBD |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field of 16 -- Round 1 |
March 27th -- 28th, 2008 |
TBD |
8 |
|
Field of 16 -- Round 2 |
March 29th -- 30th, 2008 |
TBD |
4 |
|
Field of 16 -- Round 3 |
April 5th |
TBD |
2 |
|
Field of 16 -- Round 4 |
April 7th |
TBD |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field of 4 -- Round 1 |
April 5th |
TBD |
2 |
|
Field of 4 -- Round 2 |
April 7th |
TBD |
1 |
4. HOW TO PLAY/ACCRUE POINTS/PRIZES: Entrant will select and click on the team he/she predicts will win each game for all Rounds of each Section and, for the national championship game, select both the winning team and the total number of points he/she predicts will be scored in the national championship game ("Total Score Prediction") and the total number of rebounds (as defined in the official box score) he/she predicts will be pulled in the national championship game by both teams ("Total Rebound Prediction"). The Field of 64 Section entries will also be used to determine the Regional Prize Winner for each of the four regions. Entrants will accrue points as follows ("Point Schedule"):
Field of 64:
Round 1- One point per correct selection (64 teams compete to determine 32 winners)
Round 2- Two points per correct selection (32 teams compete to determine 16 winners)
Round 3- Four points per correct selection (16 teams compete to determine 8 winners)
Round 4- Six points per correct selection (8 teams compete to determine 4 winners)
Round 5- Eight points per correct selection (4 teams compete to determine 2 winners)
Round 6- Ten points per correct selection (2 teams compete to determine 1 winner)
Field of 16:
Round 1- Four points per correct selection (16 teams compete to determine 8 winners)
Round 2- Six points per correct selection (8 teams compete to determine 4 winners)
Round 3- Eight points per correct selection (4 teams compete to determine 2 winners)
Round 4- Ten points per correct selection (2 teams compete to determine 1 winner)
Field of 4:
Round 1- Eight points per correct selection (4 teams compete to determine 2 winners)
Round 2- Ten points per correct selection (2 teams compete to determine 1 winner)
One Million Dollar Challenge Prize ("Challenge Prize"): If any Entrant perfectly predicts all 63 winning teams throughout the national tournament in the Field of 64 Section, meaning, subject to the Rules and Deadlines herein, the Entrant correctly predicts each and every winning team of the Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5 and Round 6 games of the Field of 64 Section, the Entrant will be awarded $1,000,000.00 ("Contingent Prize Winner"), payable as a 20 year annuity. There is only one (1) $1,000,000.00 Contingent Prize. In the case of multiple Contingent Prize Winners, the Challenge Prize will be distributed equally among all eligible winners.
The Entrant earning the most cumulative points at the end of the Field of 64 Section based on the Point Schedule will be the Field of 64 Winner. The Entrant who correctly predicts the most winning teams in their Field of 64 Section Round 1 and Round 2 selections will be determined the Regional Prize Winner for each of the four regions. The Entrant earning the most cumulative points at the end of the Field of 16 Section based on the Point Schedule will be the Field of 16 Winner. The Entrant earning the most cumulative points at the end of the Field of 4 Section based on the Point Schedule will be the Field of 4 Winner. In the event of a tie between Entrants at the end of any Section, the Entrant's Total Score Prediction will be used to break any ties. If Entrants remain tied after the Total Score Prediction tie-breaker, each Entrant's Total Rebound Prediction will be used to identify the Entrant whose Total Rebound Prediction is closest to the actual number of rebounds in the championship game, resulting in the determination of the Winner. In the event of a Regional Prize Winner tie, the Entrant earning the most points in Round 2 of the Field of 64 Section will be the Regional Prize Winner. If a tie remains, the Entrant earning the most points in Round 1 of the Field of 64 Section will be the Regional Prize Winner. To cancel Entrant participation in the game, the Entrant is required to send an email to bracketbreakdown@athlonsports.com requesting that he/she be removed. All of Entrant's points accrued will then be forfeited.
In the event that two or more Entrants remain tied, for any of the Sections or the Regional Prize, after applying the tiebreaker procedures (as would be the case with identical entries), the first Entrant to submit his/her entry will be determined the Winner. Athlon Sports and Sponsor reserve the right to award equal prizes to all tied Entrants where the sum total of all prizes awarded is equal to the ARV of the prize designated for that prize.
The Field of 64 Winner will win a HDTV Entertainment System (ARV $1,500.00); One (1) Regional Prize Winner in each region will win a "MINI Road Trip" for two to San Antonio April 4th through the 8th, to include round-trip airfare from a major airport near the winner's residence to San Antonio, TX, with ground transportation to hotel, additional ground transportation via MINI Clubman during stay, gas, four nights hotel accommodations at the Sheraton Gunter, breakfast daily, welcome gifts, and a gift card in the amount of $3,000.00 to spend on activities of the winner's choice. (ARV: $4,700.00) Mini Clubman will be available for pick-up at hotel. All other meals, gratuities, transportation and other expenses not specified are the sole responsibility of Winner. Trip is subject to availability and blackout dates. All travel must be completed by April 8th, 2008. Winner and his/her guest must travel together. Inability of Winner to participate in MINI Road Trip will result in forfeiture of prize. Winner and guest must sign a risk waiver and hold-harmless release(s) provided to them by and in accordance with the instructions of Sponsor, Athlon Sports and/or prize venue at least ten days prior to departure to or forfeit the prize. Winners and guest must be 21 years of age or older. Winner and guest must have valid driver's licenses, the ability to navigate between distances and proof of insurance, as required; the Field of 16 Winner will win a High Definition Television (ARV $750.00); the Field of 4 Winner will win an Apple i-Pod (ARV $350.00).
5. ODDS OF WINNING: The Game is a game of skill and an Entrant's chances of winning depends on his/her skill and ability to pick winning teams and accrue more points than all other Entrants in the Game and his/her ability to accurately predict total number of points scored. The odds of winning any prize depends upon the Entrant's selections and the total number of Entrants and upon the total number of eligible entries received.
6. PRIZE AWARDING: The Winners will be, upon confirmation of eligibility and execution of requested eligibility and release documents, awarded the prizes described in paragraph 4 above.
All prizes are available. Prizes may not be combined with any other offer. Winners will be responsible for any and all federal, state, and local taxes incurred in winning and accepting any prizes (including any taxes) and all other expenses incurred in winning and accepting the Prizes. Dollar amounts are expressed in U.S. currency. Winners may receive an IRS 1099 form reporting the value of their prize. By accepting a prize, Winners waive the right to assert as a cost of winning said prize, any and all costs of redemption or travel to redeem said prize, and any and all liability that might arise from redeeming or seeking said prize. The ARV of the prizes set forth above represents Sponsor's and/or Athlon Sports' good-faith determination of the retail value thereof. Winners will be initially identified, subject to eligibility, on or about seven (7) business days following the date of the last Round ("Effective Date"), by Sponsor, Athlon or its agent, the judge of the game whose decisions are final and binding. Winners will be notified by overnight mail and/or email, at Athlon Sports' discretion, on or about fourteen (14) business days following the Effective Date ("Notification"). The complete identification of all winning Entrants shall be posted on the "STANDINGS" page of the Site and available for viewing no later than March 31st, 2008 or by sending written request in a stamped, self-addressed envelope for receipt no later than March 31st, 2008 to: Athlon Sports Communications, Inc., 220 25th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37203. Winners must provide positive identification in such form as is specified by Sponsor or Athlon Sports to claim a prize. Return of Notification as undeliverable will result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Prizes will be awarded only upon winner validation and verification by Sponsor and/or Athlon Sports. All prizes must be redeemed by the Winner no later than thirty (30) days following Athlon Sport's confirmation of Notification. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a Winner, the individual who was, at the time of entry, at Athlon Sports' sole discretion, the registered holder of the email account used to enter the Game, will be deemed the eligible Entrant. It is the sole responsibility of the Entrant to notify the Sponsor during the Promotion Period if his/her email address changes. No transfer or assignment of any prize is permitted. No substitution of any prize will be permitted, except that Athlon Sports reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute any prize with either the cash value of the applicable prize that would otherwise have been awarded, or a prize or prizes of equal or greater value, in the event that such prize is unavailable. If the initially selected Winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim a prize, or if the prize is returned as undeliverable, the prize will be forfeited and an alternate Winner will be selected. Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for Athlon, Sponsor, and their respective designees to use of Winner's name, likeness, statements, voice, opinions, biographical information and state of residence for promotional purposes in any media without notice, further payment, consideration, credit, or right of approval or review (except void where prohibited by law). Winners will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and liability release within five (5) days of Athlon Sports' and/or Sponsor's request (except void where prohibited by law).
7. DISQUALIFICATION: The use of robotic, automatic, macro, programmed or like methods (including without limitation the use of any promotion/game subscription, notification, entry or like sites or service that offers Game entry services "on behalf of" Entrant) is strictly prohibited. Neither Athlon Sports nor any Sponsor is responsible for lost, interrupted or unavailable network server or other connections, miscommunications, failed telephone or computer or telephone transmissions or technical failure, jumbled, scrambled or misdirected transmissions, or other error of any kind whether human, mechanical or electronic. Persons found tampering with or abusing any aspect of the Game, as solely determined by Athlon Sports and/or the Sponsor, will be disqualified. If disqualified for any of the above abuses, Athlon Sports reserves the right to terminate such person's eligibility to participate in the Game and future contests sponsored by Athlon Sports. Entrants further acknowledge that the forfeiture of prize(s) and/or return of any prize(s) shall in no way prevent Athlon Sports from pursuing other avenues of recourse such as criminal or civil proceedings in connection with such conduct. Any attempt to damage any website of Athlon Sports and/or the Sponsors, or tamper with or undermine the legitimate operation of the Game, is a violation of these Official Rules as well as criminal and civil laws. Athlon Sports reserves the right to seek remedies and damages from any responsible individual to the fullest extent permitted by law. In the event any portion of this Game is compromised by any virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes beyond the control of Athlon Sports which, in the sole opinion of Athlon Sports or the Sponsor, corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Game, Athlon Sports reserves the right to modify, suspend or terminate the Game. In no event will more prizes be awarded than those listed above in paragraph 7.
8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: By registering for and participating in the Game, Entrants agree (a) to these Official Rules, and the decisions of Athlon Sports, the Sponsor and the judges, which shall be binding and final in all respects, and Sponsor's and/or Athlon Sport's privacy policy and terms and conditions; (b) to release the Sponsor and Athlon Sports from all liability, loss or damage arising out of participation in the Game and with respect to the awarding, receipt, possession, use and/or misuse of any prize; (c) to be contacted by Athlon Sports and/or Sponsor by mail, telephone and/or email; and (d) acknowledge that neither Athlon Sports nor the Sponsors make any warranty, representation, or guarantee, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relative to any prize, and disclaim all liability for the provision, quality or nature of any third-party products or services provided to winners. By registering for and participating in the Game, the Winners release Athlon Sports and Sponsor, their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, fulfillment, marketing agencies, public relation firms, consultants or contractors from any and all liability, claims or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages or losses to persons (including death) and property that may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership, possession, acceptance, enjoyment, use or misuse of a prize, or arising out of participation in this Game, or while preparing for, participating in, and/or traveling to any prize-related activity. IN NO EVENT WILL Athlon Sports, THE SPONSOR OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AFFILIATES, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, fulfillment, marketing agencies, public relation firms, consultants or contractors BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF ANY PARTICIPATION IN THE GAME OR ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GAME, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, AS WELL AS ANY CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS OR INVASION OF PRIVACY.
9. COMMUNICATIONS: Any information Entrants provide to Athlon Sports and the Sponsor will be used to communicate with the Entrant in relation to this Game. Athlon Sports and/or the Sponsor may also share this information with third parties who are participating in the Game. Athlon Sports will collect and use personal data in accordance with its privacy policy available for review at www.athlonsports.com.
10. GENERAL INFORMATION: Athlon Sports reserves the right to modify the Official Rules for the purposes of clarifying and effectuating how the Game should be played, how the Game will be scored, how Winners are determined, including in the event of unanticipated events leading to unexpected tied Entrants, and what prizes will be awarded. Any changes to the Official Rules will be reasonably made with the intention of not materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Game. In the event of inadvertent computer or operator error or force majeure events affecting the schedule(s) of Rounds or entry deadlines, Athlon Sports reserves the right to nullify or modify any Round or its identified timing and/or schedule and/or, in their sole discretion, to implement substitute Rounds, schedules, or portions thereof, solely for purposes of determining winning Entrants on an equal basis and without unfairly disqualifying otherwise eligible Entrants from winning prizes. Neither Athlon Sports nor Sponsor is affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by, any of the players, teams, leagues, or their sponsors or Entrants identified in connection with this Game, and none are a sponsor of or associated with the Game in any way. Player, team, league and other associated names are the trademarks of their respective owners and are used for factual, descriptive purposes only. All trademarks, logos and images pertaining to any of the above ("Third Party Marks") contained within the Site are the property of their respective owners. The Site is intended for informational and entertainment use only. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Any and all disputes in connection with the Game will be resolved exclusively in the appropriate courts in
Sponsored By: MINI division of BMW of North America LLC
Produced By: Athlon Sports Communications, Inc., 220 25th Avenue North,
The Game and all accompanying materials are © 2008 Athlon Sports Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
